The Complete Spellbound Trilogy Bundle

  I drew in a sharp breath but remained quiet.

  “…I headed down to the beach. I was going to watch the sunset from the cliffs. I didn’t have a particular plan in mind, but I was prepared to take the pills and down them with the wine. Anything to not feel.”

  Never in a million years did I think I’d actually have something so profoundly in common with Savannah Banyan. If anyone could appreciate her pain and yearning to no longer feel anything, it was me.

  “But obviously you didn’t do anything foolish.”

  She gave a sad smile. “I had my perfect spot all picked out. The sun was just starting to set, and the sky was lit so pretty, like the most beautiful painting. I opened the bottle of wine and was about to get the pills from my purse, when out of nowhere I heard a guy ask, ‘Is this a private party, or may I join you?’

  “I’d been so wrapped up in my own little world, I hadn’t noticed him come up. I guess he’d just moved to town and wanted to check out the waves and thought it was a pretty good spot.”

  “Justin...”

  She nodded. “Yeah. He showed up. And the moment I saw him, the second he started talking to me and sat next to me, I felt okay again. Like everything was going to be all right.”

  “I know that feeling,” I whispered.

  Her eyes took a slightly vacant look as she reminisced. “We sat and talked all night long. Well, almost. I’d never had a conversation like that with anyone in my life. It just flowed so smoothly, and it seemed like we could talk for hours and hours. We met again the next day, and the day after, and every day after. It was our special place. I told him things about myself that I’d never told anyone, and he opened up to me in a way that made me think he really cared.”

  “I’m sure he did care.”

  She scoffed and shook her head. “The first time he kissed me,” she continued, her voice softer, “well, it was the first time I’d ever kissed a boy. I’d practiced on my hand and with my pillow, but it was my first real one. I’d always imagined my first kiss would be with someone wonderful and special and perfect, and it was. It was even better than I had dreamed.”

  “So what do you think happened?” I pressed. “If things were so good, then why did you guys stop seeing each other?”

  She shook her head. “That’s the thing. We never really hung out other than at the cliffs. We’d meet every night just before twilight and watch the sun set. We’d hold hands, talk, and kiss… then he’d go back to his life, and I went back to mine.”

  “Did you just stop meeting one day?”

  She sighed. “There’s this big party my parents throw every year for the end of the summer blow out. Huge. People come from all over the country, even the world, to attend. It’s very ‘A-list’. Nicholas’s mom has even been there. I’d told Justin that I wasn’t going to be at our spot that day because I had family obligations. I didn’t go into details, but I didn’t invite him to come to the party, either.”

  “Why not?”

  “I didn’t want him around that part of my life. I didn’t want him to see how I’d have to act around those people, and my parents. All summer he’d been seeing the real me, the one no one else had ever seen. I was afraid I’d ruin it by bringing him around that awful scene.”

  “I’m sure he could’ve handled it.”

  “He probably could’ve, but I couldn’t. You don’t know how phony and obnoxious these people can be. So materialistic and pretentious and snotty fake. The time Justin and I spent together was the most pure, most honest, most real time I’d ever spent with someone. I didn’t want to spoil it by mixing the two worlds. He was way too good for that.”

  “So was he mad that you didn’t invite him or something? That doesn’t seem like his style.”

  She shook her head. “That’s what I don’t understand. He never actually got mad, he just never came back to our spot. And then school started, and he just acted distant and busy. Wouldn’t really talk to me whenever I tried. I went back to the cliffs every day hoping he’d show up, but he never did. And then you blew into town, and he couldn’t take his eyes off you for a second. And you know the rest.”

  I lowered my gaze, ashamed. I’d never actively chased Justin, but I knew that I never actively discouraged him either. At least not at first. “How long did you keep going to the cliffs hoping he’d show?”

  She was silent for a moment, and the side of her mouth turned up slightly. “What makes you think I’ve ever stopped?” she finally whispered.

  At that moment the bell rang signaling the end of lunch period. Savannah flashed me a quick, sad smile and stood up.

  “Thanks for telling me about Justin. You’ll let me know if you hear anything else, won’t you?”

  I nodded. “Sure.” I rose to my feet and gathered my bag. “And he’ll be fine, really. Should be back any day now.”

  “Good.” She started to walk away. Then she paused and looked back over her shoulder. “You’re not going to tell anyone what I told you, are you?”

  I shook my head. “No.”

  She turned around and left. I was watching her go, letting her get a head start before following suit, when suddenly the scenery around me disappeared and everything went dark. Like a movie in my mind, a new scene unfolded. It was Justin, laughing and smiling, and he was holding Savannah’s hand and staring lovingly into her eyes. They looked so incredibly happy together, like a perfectly matched set, with their beach-blond hair, blue eyes, and tan skin. Both were wearing casual white summer clothes and walking down the shore. But they weren’t in Crystal Cove. It was the most beautiful beach I’d ever seen… it even rivaled Saffron’s perfect creation in Australia.

  They walked hand in hand and gazed adoringly into each other’s eyes. Then another image came into view—a little toddler following happily beside them, holding onto Savannah’s flowing white dress with a chubby little fist. He had dark blond ringlets just like Justin, and was laughing with glee.

  “Oh my God,” I gasped. The scene suddenly broke and was replaced with the schoolyard and students milling back to class.

  I stood there, stunned, not only by what I’d just seen, but how I’d seen it.

  My visions were back.

  Chapter 14. Firestarter

  I crossed the lawn in a daze, half excited, half scared. Was that just a one shot deal? Was what I saw really a vision? Did that mean that Justin was going to be okay?

  I was confused, because this particular vision was so different from the ones I used to get. Those were like quick blips in my mind, while everything else around me was still normal. Like a picture-in-a-picture. This was so… intense. Vivid. Everything else totally disappeared, and I was in the movie as it played.

  Was it just a fluke? Some sort of weird side-effect from my heightened Empath? Maybe I was just picking up on Savannah’s deepest fantasies… her secret dreams?

  I didn’t know. For now, I could only wait and see if it happened again.

  “Get what you needed?” Nicholas asked as I rejoined the group. I nodded, hating the feeling that I was being even the slightest bit deceitful. I made a mental note to tell him everything later. Well, enough to know the truth, but without all the details. Savannah had confided in me, and I wanted to respect her trust.

  “C’mon, we’re gonna be late.” Nicholas gave me a quick kiss as Sophie dragged me away. “And I’m so annoyed that you took so long. When’re you going to fill us in about what happened with Ana last night?”

  “Come over this afternoon. I’ll tell you everything then.”

  “I know you weren’t talking with Mia,” Lily said as the three of us made our way to our lockers.

  I glanced at her and frowned. “Why do you think that?”

  She shook her head in exasperation. “Come on, Callie. You don’t have to lie to us or feel like you have to hide anything, ever. Don’t you know that?”

  Sophie leaned against the locker next to me as I fiddled with my combination. “I’m sure you have your reasons for tryi
ng to hide it,” she began. “And obviously you don’t have to get our permission or approval to do what you want to do. But if you start trying to be secretive or hiding truths, it could lead to problems for all of us.”

  I pulled out my books and shoved them into my bag. “I just wanted to talk to Savannah in private, and I didn’t want anyone giving me a hard time about it.”

  Lily smiled. “That’s perfectly fine. Of course you can have private moments or do things you think we won’t approve of. Just be honest. Say, ‘Hey, it might seem nuts, but I’m going to have a chat with Savannah Banyan for a few, and I don’t want any grief about it.’ It’s cool, we’ll understand.”

  I slammed the door and started walking down the hall. “I just didn’t want to make a scene. I know how concerned both of you are with my emotional state right now.”

  We paused in front of the classroom door. “She’s really not that horrible, deep down, is she?” Lily said quietly, giving me a knowing glance.

  I shook my head. “She puts on a good show, and she definitely has her moments, but she’s not that bad after all. I just think she’s in a lot of pain and doesn’t handle it right. How’d you know?”

  She shrugged and held up her hand, briefly letting the thin bands of magical jewels shine. “Ever since I got these, she’s seemed different to me somehow. Softer… weaker… less intimidating. ”

  Sophie nodded. “Me too. Like before she seemed like this scary lion, and now it’s like she’s this little kitten. I couldn’t explain it.”

  “I don’t see her as being weak. Actually, I think she’s a lot stronger than she realizes. But hopefully she can work out her issues and get what she wants in life.” I paused and thought of Justin for a moment, and how he had looked in my vision with Savannah. “’Cause everyone deserves a chance at happiness. Especially the ones who hurt the most.”

  *****

  I was back home in my bedroom unlacing my running shoes, when Lily announced her and Sophie’s imminent arrival an instant before their bodies wavered into view. I guessed I should’ve been grateful I had even a half-second heads up. Sophie briefly rubbed her arms to rid herself of the tingly ant sensation, and Lily eyed me curiously.

  “You just get back from a run?”

  I nodded. After I’d gotten home from school, Nicholas and I had met down on the shore and done our daily jog to the pier and back. I’d promised Ana I wouldn’t have him over in my room anymore, and I certainly wasn’t going to flaunt our relationship in her face.

  But after our talk the other night, she’d reluctantly agreed to allow me to keep seeing him for our running sessions. We couldn’t hang out as freely as we wanted, but at least we didn’t have to worry about the deadly gargoyles sounding the alarm if he so much as stepped a toe on her property.

  It was painful for her, but I knew Ana would ease up in time. She just needed to get used to the idea of us together, and see that it was fine. I was willing to play by her rules for as long as it took, but I would miss having Nicholas shimmer into my room at all hours.

  “I’d hoped to get cleaned up before y’all got here.” I peeled off my damp sweatpants and threw them on top of the growing pile of dirty clothes in my closet. It’d been so long since I’d done any chores around the house, I wondered if Dad had any clean socks left. I knew I was almost out.

  “Actually, go ahead. I’m starving and I want to raid your kitchen,” Sophie said.

  Lily nodded. “Do your thing. We’re fine.”

  “Ten minutes,” I promised and headed to the bathroom.

  Half an hour later, the three of us were hiking back down to the beach. We had decided to hang out on the boulders to watch the sunset and see the ships go by. It’d been Sophie’s idea, and although it was a bit on the chilly side, it was still a beautiful day.

  It was so nice to be out here, just the three of us, enjoying the roar of the ocean’s waves crashing on the rocks below and the seagulls squawking overhead. The late afternoon sky was warm and friendly, with its pastel pinks and yellows and oranges. I was glad we had come.

  I briefly thought of my earlier conversation with Savannah. Was she somewhere doing the same thing we were, seeing the same thing we saw, and waiting for the friend who never came back? I had a feeling she was… that even though she knew he wouldn’t be there today, she was waiting for him anyway.

  “Okay,” Sophie said once we’d gotten situated. “I’ve been dying all day! Tell us everything that went down with Ana. And don’t leave out a thing!” She clasped her hands in eager anticipation and leaned forward.

  I gave a small laugh. “I hate to disappoint you, but it really wasn’t all that dramatic.”

  “Well, something must’ve happened. If suddenly she’s totally okay with Nicholas and all.”

  I cringed and glanced away. “I wouldn’t say she is ‘totally okay’ with him. But she realizes that she can’t blame him for something that someone else did, and that trying to forbid me from being with him will just drive me away. She doesn’t want me to leave her like my mom did.”

  Sophie raised an eyebrow. “So it’s kinda like emotional blackmail?”

  “No, of course not.” I frowned. “I never threatened to leave or anything like that. When we started talking, she just told me how sorry she was, and that she was afraid I was never coming back. I guess that made her re-evaluate her position some.”

  Lily nodded. “I could see that. But it’s strange that she didn’t put up more of a fight. I mean, the Triple Star coven basically ruined her life and took away everything she loved, right?”

  “Well, that was kind of weird, actually.” I leaned back on my hands. “After I told her that I loved Nicholas, and that he was good and not evil, I said how she can’t blame him for what other people did. And then she said that the only person she blamed was herself… and that everything that happened, my grandpa Arthur dying and my mom leaving… she said that it was all her fault. She was the one to blame.”

  “I’m sure she just feels guilty over all the drama and senseless loss,” Lily murmured.

  I shook my head. “No, it seemed like she meant literally. Like whatever happened, happened because of her. It was really weird, but that’s all she said.”

  “Well, she wasn’t the one who killed your grandpa Arthur, I can tell you that much,” Sophie said with certainty. “She must’ve been talking about something else. Maybe she felt guilty for your mom leaving and blames herself for whatever happened.”

  I shrugged and squinted my eyes at the setting sun. “Yeah, that much was pretty obvious. Didn’t even need Empath powers there.”

  “So you didn’t tell her anything about seeing your mom in the Looking Stone?” Sophie asked.

  I shook my head again. “Nah. What’s there to tell? I don’t know where she is, I have no idea how to find her, and saying something to Ana might just make her feel worse. I’ll tell her when there’s actually something substantial to report. But from what I’ve felt from her, I don’t think she can take much more pain. I’d hate to have my mom reject her again and make everything worse. She’s suffered enough.”

  “How are things with your dad?” Lily asked. I could feel her sympathy without even looking in her direction.

  I pressed my lips together and stared at the water as two small ships disappeared over the horizon. I wondered where they were going—what grand adventures awaited the voyagers on board.

  “Things are fine with us. More than fine. I love him with all my heart, just as he loves me. He is my father. DNA be damned.”

  Sophie nodded. “I’m glad you feel that way. We know it’s a hard thing to learn…we were all shocked. But it doesn’t really change anything important.”

  “Except that I have a ‘real’ dad out there somewhere,” I said, using my fingers to make sarcastic air quotes. In my heart Dad was my real dad. Nothing would ever change that.

  “You have to find your mom,” Sophie said. “So many answers lie with her.”

  I watched as
the sun’s light reflected off the water. She was right, but that was easier said than done.

  “Maybe if you tell Ana you can see her, she can help you somehow,” she added.

  I shook my head. “I don’t know what all went down between them, but I think whatever happened was so horrible it ripped their connection. That’s why Ana has never been able to find her. I think she’ll only hamper my attempts if she tries to help.”

  Sophie sat up straight and brushed off her palms. “Okay… what do we know for sure?” She started ticking off a list on her fingers. “We know that your mom was involved with a Triple Star warlock, and something went down that wasn’t good. Then, for reasons unknown to us, some of their coven was in a fight, and your grandpa was murdered. Am I right so far?”

  I nodded. “Ana said she came home, and Arthur was dead in my mom’s arms. She said my mom lost her mind with wanting revenge, and Ana had to bind her powers for her own safety before she got herself killed.”

  “And that’s when they had a huge blowout and your mom ran away,” Lily said.

  “Well, actually, it was a couple years later that my mom left. Ana said Arthur was killed right after my mom’s sixteenth birthday, and she’d just turned eighteen when she finally left.”

  “And was, most likely, already pregnant at the time,” Sophie added quietly, her gaze cast downward.

  “And then she met my dad, and either it really was love or she did something to him…” My voice drifted off as I recalled his gut-wrenching words the other morning. Although he was clearly deeply in love with her, even he himself had used the words “magic” and “spell”. Maybe, subconsciously, he knew.

  “Whatever it was,” I continued, “she met my dad, they fell in love, and she convinced him that I was his. And I guess everything was okay for a while, at least according to him. And then one day she suddenly wanted to leave, all in a panic. Wanted to move away.”

  “Like maybe someone was after her or had found her?” Lily asked, her eyebrows raised.